Organizers behind First 5 Humboldt, a local independent government organization, highlighted its achievements in the past year on Tuesday at the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Funded by revenue from statewide tobacco sales, the organization supports programs that invest in the health of families and children. One of its interests, for instance, is preventing “adverse childhood experiences” and promoting resilience among children who deal with early trauma.

“First 5 Humboldt funds and supports programs that positively affect the physical, emotional, social, and economic health of young children and pregnant women,” the organization’s annual report reads.

The organization also works with pregnant women to help them get early prenatal care.

The report cited an increase in the amount parents and caregivers agree with statements like, “I feel more supported as a parent,” “I feel less stress” and “my child and I engage in play together more often.”

Additionally, First 5 Humboldt partners with libraries, reporting more than 8,000 children and adults have taken part in nearly 400 library programs, activities and workshops which the organization has advocated.

The organization’s main form of child engagement is Playgroup, a program where children participate to establish healthier early experiences.

In 2017, the county office of education screened more than 1,300 children for school readiness; 79 percent of Playgroup attendees were screened as ready for kindergarten, compared to 69 percent of non-Playgroup attendees.

While tobacco tax revenue has funded the organization’s operations, a new provision of the tax will reduce the amount of funding for the group over the next two years, the report stated. As a result, First 5 Humboldt has advocated to obtain some of the revenue generated from the sale of marijuana, according to the report.

“In all our work, we are focused on providing services that demonstrate an ability to strengthen families and prevent negative outcomes,” the organization stated in the report. “Our rigorous evaluation helps us understand what best serves the needs of Humboldt families.”